Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

"Hou Kong is twenty-six this year, has a Superior Battle Body, and his Mid-stage Cold Resistance Cultivation already possesses the strength of four manes, making him the most talented among the Hou Family's peers. Unfortunately, even Hou Hu back then was nothing more."

On the snowfield, Hou Jing sighed slightly at Xia Hong, regretting his failure to convince Hou Kong to pledge allegiance to Great Xia.

"No matter, his heart is set on Hou Hu; more persuasion will be futile. What about the three remaining Cold Resistance level individuals in Zhaoyang and others? How are they?"

A twenty-six-year-old with a Superior Battle Body could at most earn a commendable evaluation from Xia Hong. He waved his hand at Hou Jing, smiling as he inquired about the status of other individuals from Zhaoyang.

Successfully winning over Hou Jing was an unexpected delight brought by Xia Chuan.

On April 17th, after Xia Chuan captured Wushuang, he sent Qiu Peng and Zhao Long to the Longyou Army Camp and Ping Valley respectively to test the attitude of Long Mountain and Zhaoyang towards Great Xia.

Zhao Long's mission to Ping Valley went smoothly, but on his return journey, he was targeted by Hou Jing. Hou Jing probably intended to capture Zhao Long and use him as leverage to force Great Xia to hand over Hou Bing.

At the time, Zhao Long had just broken through the Cold Resistance level, and his Basic Strength was less than three manes. How could he possibly oppose Hou Jing, with fifteen manes of strength at the Peak of Cold Resistance, without the slightest suspense, Zhao Long was caught directly.

The subsequent development was quite intriguing; Hou Jing, without going through Hou Hu, independently brought Zhao Long to Wushuang to visit Great Xia, indicating his intention to exchange prisoners.

Xia Chuan, who welcomed him at that time, keenly sensed that Hou Jing was likely not in alignment with Hou Hu, so he happily took him back to Xia City to experience the grand spectacle of Great Xia, allowing him to see Hou Bing, unharmed but with freedom restricted, afterward directly tried to win him over.

At that time, Great Xia, although it had successfully captured Beehive and Wushuang, had not yet absorbed all of Longyou's population, Xia City had only over forty thousand people. Xia Chuan's power was just at six manes; even if he left Hou Jing in awe, these alone could not possibly succeed in persuading Hou Jing.

What truly began to sway Hou Jing was a gamble Xia Chuan proposed to him.

"Senior Hou probably thinks that our Great Xia's limited power, recklessly interfering in Longyou, will end in a dead-end, Xia Chuan dares to wager with Senior Hou. Let's bet this time our Great Xia can establish itself in Longyou amid the struggle with Long Mountain and your Camp. If I lose, not only Hou Bing, but Hou Ying, Hou Ming, Lin Ye, including all Zhaoyang Earth-digging Realm captured in Beehive, I will let them all go. How about it?"

"And if you win?"

"If I win, Senior Hou needs to do nothing. For this bet, Senior only needs to leave Hou Bing in Great Xia as a witness. If I win, I will release Hou Bing as agreed, how about it?"

If I gamble and lose, his son will still be handed over to him;

If I gamble and win, not only his son but Hou Ming, Hou Ying, Lin Ye, and all Earth-digging Realm, Xia Chuan will return them all to Zhaoyang.

This was a win-win bet.

Hou Jing, over eighty years old, what hasn't he seen? He immediately realized Xia Chuan already discerned his lack of loyalty to Zhaoyang, deliberately using the bet to let him observe Great Xia, while trying to win his favor.

The key was that Great Xia indeed went all-out to buy time.

Three Cold Resistance level individuals and hundreds of Earth-digging Realm were wagered.

Hou Jing at the time still did not agree but posed Xia Chuan a question.

"I captured Zhao Long to exchange prisoners with you. By your words, does this mean you refuse to use Hou Bing to trade him?"

In Xia Chuan's bet, he mentioned Hou Bing, apparently not intending to use Hou Bing to exchange for Zhao Long, which prompted Hou Jing's question.

"Great Xia has never exchanged prisoners, nor will it ever in the future. Zhao Long being captured can only accept his fate; Senior Hou if proposes other material needs, I might consider, but exchanging prisoners is out of discussion. However, I have stated upfront, Great Xia values life like gold, especially those at Cold Resistance level. If Zhao Long suffers any mishap in Senior's hands, not only Hou Bing, but Hou Ming, Hou Ying, Lin Ye, including the hundreds of other Earth-digging Realm, will all accompany him in death. I, Xia Chuan, always keep my word!"

According to Xia Chuan himself, Hou Jing was intimidated by these words, not only released Zhao Long but agreed to let Hou Bing stay to complete the bet.

Xia Hong shook his head slightly, for he is not as simple-minded as Xia Chuan.

An eighty-year-old man, who has weathered countless storms, how could he be intimidated by mere harsh words? Hou Jing clearly clashed with Hou Hu and had long contemplated betraying Zhaoyang.

Xia Chuan used a prudent bet to gamble on Great Xia's future performance to entice him, Hou Jing agreed as expected.

Simply put, if Great Xia performs well in Longyou afterward, he would smoothly betray Zhaoyang and side with Great Xia, allowing his son Hou Bing and others from Zhaoyang to survive; if Great Xia performs poorly afterward, then Xia Chuan would fulfill the bet and eventually release everyone.

The bet was win-win with no loss, how could he possibly refuse?

In the following May, Xia Hong learned from the Zhaoyang Earth-digging Realm captives about the conflict between Hou Jing and Hou Hu.

Thirteen years ago, when the former leader of Zhaoyang, Hou Hu's father Hou Luan, passed away, he handed the position of leader to his brother Hou Jing.

At that time, Hou Hu was still a hostage at Long Mountain.

Although called hostage, he was actually the disciple of Li Tianhua.